Photo Camp 2011

Some of you are aware that over the last few months I have organised the Walkabouts - a really informal gathering of photographer, make up artists, stylists and models - the idea behind this was a selfish one - I wanted to pick the brains of other photographers and get loads of practice doing portraits. I always wanted these events to be accesible to all, regardless of the kit you have or the level of experience - the main requirements were enthusiasm and a willingness to share.

After a lot of thinking I have decided to do something a little different over the Winter. On the 5th and 6th of Febraury 2011 I will be holding the first PhotoCamp in Southport! I am afraid that this one is just for the girls....... and  chaps, you cannot shave your legs, wear a dress and come along! There are a couple of reasons for the girls only... the main one is the logistics of where we are holding it - its at  Waterside Lodge and the accommodation is bunk beds in dorms - perfect for midnight feasts !

So, here are the details

Who is it aimed at? I feel that this course is aimed at any of you who are fairly new to the photography business, whether you have been doing it part time for a while or whether you are just starting to dip your toes in the water. I also think it woulsd be great if more experienced photographers came along and joined in, to share their experiences too 

The aim of the weekend is to get together to share ideas, network, eat cake (obviously) , learn some new skills, and gain confidence in the skills you already have. This is not  a taught course - I am not a tutor - I strongly believe that we all have something to offer and I know I have the experience of the Walkabouts and I will provide the opportunities to take part in a photoshoot with great models, to have discussions and structured sessions on what its like to set up in business, the importance of marketing and branding. I want everyone to leave on the Sunday afternoon with a little more confidence in their own ability, with a new support network they can call on and feel inspired for the year ahead.Think of this as time out from your day to day stuff, time to immerse yourself in what you love

The cost of the weekend is £150 and this includes overnight accommodation, refreshments, lunch both days, breakfast on the Sunday, dinner at a chinese restaurant and 10 pin bowling on the Saturday night. Places are limited to 20 and in order to reserve your place I do require a deposit of £50 and the balance will need to be paid 2 weeks before the event - don't worry, I will remind you!

So..... are you interested? Do you have some ideas that you would like to see included on the weekend.Leave me your comments and suggestions on here 

Contact me on jo@jorutherfordphotography.co.uk to get a booking form - if you would then like to book you will need to send the form back to me with a cheque for the deposit.

I wanted to put an image up which links to this post but couldn't find one so I decided to put up my favourite image of the year - very self indulgant I know!

A walk on the beach

Now I love the beach and love the fact that I live near the beach and so when Kath asked for a family photoshoot at Ainsdale I jumped at the chance. However I forgot just for a moment that it is nearly the end of November, its cold and very windy down there! Luckily we managed to find some sheltered areas in the sand dunes and Kath Adam, Emma, Jenny and Sophie the dog braved the freezing weather and were great fun, even when Sophie decided she had had enough and went for a wander in the sand dunes - small dog.....long grass......we found her eventually!

Here are a couple of sneaky peeks from the afternoon

If you would like to brave the chilly weather and book a photoshoot in the next couple of weeks then give me a shout - just think - thats some Christmas presents sorted for the family!!

The Help Portrait project.....I need your ideas

I love photography, yes it verges on an obsession I know! One of the main reasons I love it is the way in which a photograph records something special, a family event, friends being together, love. There is something amazing about the emotions that can be triggered by looking at a photograph.

I came across a website last year which intrigued me  it is the Help Portrait organisation set up in America by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart. This year I want to be involved and I really need your help. On Saturday December 4th I will have a camera, empty memory cards, and a ton of enthusiasm to photograph people who would never even dream of having a portrait taken and this is where you come in. I would love ideas of who I should photograph on the day, do you know of a community group, hospice, or family who would really enjoy having some photographs taken but for various reasons have never had the chance? This is not an opportunity to grab a free portrait session, it is also not about me building my own portfolio , it is truly about wanting to use the skills I have to support someone else.

There will be no charge for the session, there will be no charge for the prints and the disc of images - strange idea I know but I truly believe in this project.


So, its over to you, will you have a really good think of groups, or of families, or individual people who maybe have had a tough year and a fun photo session would be a small help in making them smile and boosting their confidence? I would really like this to be in Southport and Formby area - so get thinking and e mail me on jo@jorutherfordphotography.co.uk with your ideas.

Oh and if you are a photographer reading this ........ you could join in too?????????

Christmas is coming!

 I looked on my eBay account this morning looking for bargains as usual and was shocked to see that there are only 39 days to Christmas!!! How did that come round so quickly? Are you the type of person who buys all their presents for the next year in the January sales, has them wrapped by October and then looks smug while the rest of us are running around like lunatics in the middle of December? If you are then this Blog post is not for you...... go on , off you go and have a cup of tea and feel all warm inside.....

Right, for those of you who are still here, I have a couple of ideas to make Christmas present buying much easier for you this year, do you have teenagers...... how about treating them to a fashion style photoshoot? They can choose their outfits, hats, jewellery, accessories and have  a great time on location , they have a great time and then you have photographs to use as presents for all the family - a win win situation!

Or how about a special treat for your partner - this one is for the girls - a Boudoir style photoshoot , you get to have a great time and feel pampered and your partner gets to see you looking stunning!

I have Gift Vouchers which can be redeemed against a photoshoot  - perfect stocking fillers for all those hard to please people!

There are loads of reasons to book a photoshoot..... family get togethers, anniversaries, getting engaged, birthdays, or just because you want to have some amazing images of you and your family. Whatever the occasion why not give me a shout? There is just enough time before Christmas to get a session booked so don't delay - the man in the big red suit will be here sooner than you think.

'Next year Mum you are getting smellies for your Birthday!'

So, my lovely friend Mandy told me that her Mum - who is also very lovely - had asked for a family photoshoot as a Birthday present.......no we are not asking whether this is a significant Birthday! 
The only day that everyone could get together was yesterday, not the day before when the sun was shining or even today when the weather is glorious, yesterday....let me paint a picture for you, wind, rain, horizontal rain, wind, cold, dark, an empty park and a gorgeous 2 and a half year old who had wellies on and was not afraid to test them to their limit.
So here are the results, including the amazing levitating Mandy in the first image - captured mid jump - I decided that this photoshoot was actually an excuse for all the family to jump in puddles, I was the only dry one by the end of the session!  By the time we had finished Regan had the contents of all the puddles in her wellies and my fingers were numb - hence Mandy deciding that next year she is going to buy her Mum some lovely smellies for her Birthday, or we are going to let her have an official Birthday like the Queen .......but in the middle of the summer

The amazing levitating Mandy!

Playing hide and seek

I did ask them all to jump and then realised they couldn't as they were stuck in the mud!

Curve: The loveliest distance between two points. Mae West

As promised, part 2 of the Boudoir Photography Blog.......no leaves, trees or cold bottoms this time you will be glad to hear!

I love the quote from Mae West, curves are great and they are what make women beautiful.My other favourite quote is ' The rarest thing in the world is a woman who is pleased with photographs of herself' Elizabeth Metcalf. Anyone who knows me will be able to testify that I hate having my photograph taken and so I completely understand it when people say that they also hate it. Thats makes the subject of Boudoir photography quite tricky to sell to people, not only are they having their photograph taken but they are nearly nude!

So, I wanted to dispel some myths about this, Boudoir photography sessions are great fun, you do not need to expose anything you don't want to.....one of my lovely ladies kept her jeans on throughout the session and the images are beautiful, its all about the teasing, the promise of what there might be!

As I have said before, we all have issues with our bodies, how we look, or more to the point, how we think we look, I now  want you to think about what your boyfriend, girlfriend or husband thinks of you and how they love evry bit of you especially the curves, so stop worrying - easier said than done - and think about booking a Boudoir Photography session............ you never know you might enjoy it, and you will certainly enjoy the reaction you get when you show your Significant Other the images!!!! This could be the best Christmas present ever!

 

Amber

What an afternoon! I spent a fantastic couple of hours with Amber and her Mum Lynsey in the park. I would like to think that I am getting the hang of this photography lark, I have worked with fabulous models, but nothing prepared me for little Miss Dynamite. Amber was very specific about what we were going to do, we had to look for butterflies, ladybirds and the odd dragon or 2 along the way. She was brilliant, full of energy, the best smile I have seen in ages and I am now shattered! So we looked for butterflies and lady birds - neither made an appearance but we did find the dragon and made wishes on leaves falling from the trees .
Amber sang and danced her way around the park and then decided that she deserved a present as she had been so good! I had to agree with her..... thank you Amber for making me smile, laugh and for making me get more exercise than I have had in ages  xx